If Bradley Wiggins is to defend his Tour de France title, he will have to ride into Paris under the cover of darkness.

The route for the 2013 race, the 100th edition, has been revealed and it will conclude with a floodlit stage in Paris.

The race will begin in Corsica and unlike this year's race, it will likely favour the mountain climbers. There will be serious summit finishes, with legendary ascents of Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux.

Wiggins, his team-mate Chris Froome and a number of other figures from Team Sky were at the Paris Palais des Congres to witness the unveiling of the route.

Next year will be the first time the Tour has visited Corsica and the island will play host to three stages - with the race depart on June 29 being a full stage rather than a prologue which will hand Mark Cavendish the chance to claim the yellow jersey.

The race will hit the mainland for the first time on Stage Four, while the riders will see the mountains, the Pyrenees, for the first time on Stage Eight - with a summit finish at Ax 3 Domaines.

Mont Ventoux, the giant of Provence, will be climbed on Stage 15 as the race hits the Alps.
Stage 17 is a second of two individual time trials, the first being into Mont Saint-Michel, and is one which will aid the climbers.

And to highlight the punishing nature of the race, the fabled Alpe d'Huez will be climbed twice on Stage 18. The road of the descent is set to be re-laid as it is not normally taken on the other side.

The climbs do not end on the Alpe as the Glandon and Madelaine are taken on Stage 19, while the race concludes on July 21 with a night finish into Paris.